Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Brian Fuentes delivers a pitch to Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jose Bautista in the ninth inning of the Rockies’ 5-3 victory in a Major League baseball game in Denver on Thursday, July 17, 2008.

For seven seasons, from 2002 to 2008, Brian Fuentes was the backbone of the Rockies bullpen, recording franchise best marks in saves (115) and ERA (3.38) that still stand.

Now, following his 2012 retirement, Fuentes has settled into a slower-paced life in his hometown of Merced, Calif., where he’s far removed from the daily stresses of closing out a game. The 42-year-old owns and oversees Fuentes Family Farms, an 8,000-tree almond farm.

“When I got out of the game, I took some time off and hung out with the family and regrouped,” Fuentes said. “The opportunity came up to buy some land and farm some almonds. I didn’t know anything about almonds, so I started researching it and looking at the numbers and thought I could probably do it (profitably). We’re four years in now, and making a little money.”

Speaking of money, Fuentes is excited to see the cash the Colorado front office has sunk into the Rockies’ bullpen.

The club spent over $100 million in December 2017 alone on that facet of the roster, highlighted by the three-year, $52 million deal given to closer Wade Davis — the richest major league relieving contract ever based on annual value.

“It’s tough to take a large portion of their payroll and stuff it in that back end, but so many teams are doing that now, so it’s good to see the Rockies have success doing that, too,” Fuentes said. “Talent plays, you know? It’s been the hardest part to get good pitchers to come here because it’s a tough place to pitch and the ball travels.

“That being said (Davis and Adam Ottavino) are big strikeout guys, they throw it hard and have good stuff. The team finally realized they needed that, and went out and got some guys with some swing-and-miss in them.”

Kyle Newman is a sports writer for The Denver Post who covers the Colorado Rockies and other pro, college and high school athletics. Prior to that, he was executive editor of the Colorado Sports Network and The Fan Varsity Sports Network. He is a 2012 graduate of the ASU Cronkite School.

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